On the eve of Maha Shivratri, six former Army Chiefs of the Indian Army were spotted performing a special pooja at the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal. The former army chiefs are in Nepal at the invitation of the Nepal Army.
As per an ANI report, at the invitation of the Nepal Army, six former Indian Army Chiefs arrived in Nepal on Tuesday to take part in the Maha Shivratri celebrations and the 262nd anniversary of the Nepal Army’s establishment.
The Pashupatinath Temple, dedicated to Pashupati—a form of Lord Shiva—is situated on the banks of the Bagmati River and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the 1970s. It is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites for Hindus.
The delegation, which includes General Joginder Jaswant Singh (Retd.), General Deepak Kapoor (Retd.), General Vijay Kumar Singh (Retd.), General Dalbir Singh Suhag (Retd.), General Manoj Mukund Naravane (Retd.), and General Manoj Pande (Retd.), were escorted to the temple for the pooja by local officials. Following the rituals, the Pashupati Area Development Trust conferred the chiefs with Rudraksha malas and scarves, according to ANI.
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Nepal and India armies share a longstanding tradition of conferring honorary ranks upon each other, reflecting the deep-rooted and strategic ties between the two neighbouring nations. This exchange symbolises mutual respect and military cooperation, a practice that has endured for over seven decades.
In November 2024, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi visited Nepal, where President Ramchandra Paudel conferred upon him the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army. Similarly, in December 2024, Nepali Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel was awarded the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army by Indian President Droupadi Murmu during his visit to India.
The visit of the former army chiefs is expected to enhance military and diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Mahashivratri is considered a sacred occasion for spiritual growth, symbolising the victory over darkness and ignorance. The festival also marks the divine marriage of Lord Shiva, the god of destruction, with Goddess Parvati, the goddess of fertility, love, and beauty, also known as Shakti (power).
